Julie Castle with Sunny the dog

Julie Castle's Blog

Julie Castle is Chief Executive Officer of Best Friends Animal Society. Read More @bfas_julie

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People from Human-Animal Support Coalition
For Amy Dixon, helping pets starts with helping people
When we put our energy toward the problems facing people first, we can prevent pets from ever going to the shelter in the first…
Keeping pets safely with their families
Julie Castle Blog
Two older black and white photos of Rich Avanzino with Sido, a sheltie mix
Mourning the loss of Richard Avanzino, the father of the no-kill movement
Rich saw early on what the rest of the field eventually came to understand: We didn’t have to kill our way out of the homeless…
He leaves behind a lifesaving legacy
Julie Castle Blog
Collage of three photos of people taking dogs out for Adventure Buddies Day
Kennels empty for Adventure Buddies Day in Los Angeles
How nearly 400 shelter dogs in Los Angeles got their best day ever.
It’s much more than exercise and enrichment
Julie Castle Blog
Heather Hall outside with a dog who is in a wheelchair
If you’re looking to save a life in West Texas, look for the vultures circling
In West Texas, Heather Hall is saving animals and proving to all of us that we belong.
Working in animal welfare makes us better people
Julie Castle Blog
Dog next to people holding a Best Friends no-kill plaque
‘It would never work here’ until it does
From remote West Texas to suburban Chicago to the coastal South, this year's no-kill honorees prove there's more than…
How lifesaving actually happens
Julie Castle Blog
Ruby Fooks beside a dog in a vehicle
Saving animals is a lifestyle; and Ruby is ready to recruit you
Ruby stops at nothing to save the animals who were once her only safety –– creating momentous change in a small county in…
She sees a problem and jumps in to fix it
Julie Castle Blog
Lawrence Nicolas holding a cat in front of kennels
Lawrence thinks you’re not giving animal shelters a shot — and maybe he’s right
Some might find it easy to forget the animals behind shelter doors, but Lawrence is here to urge you to give them a chance.
Lawrence discusses his work in animal welfare
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle smiling at a booth at an event
How to break into animal welfare from any career
A law school escapee, an Air Force officer, and a parks director follow their heart...
It's valuable life experience that matters
Julie Castle Blog
Cat's paws on a computer keyboard
AI is already changing the field. Here's where Best Friends stands
AI isn't coming. It's here. And we're excited about what it will do for animals.
Using AI to move more communities to no-kill
Julie Castle Blog
Person hugging a brown and white dog on green grass
People from more than 1,000 shelters spoke. We listened.
Small changes with big results saving more lives in shelters today.
Little actions translate into lifesaving
Julie Castle Blog
Large dog in an agility field on a platform surrounded by toys with him chewing a toy football
This is who no-kill looks like
Meet some of the dogs and people behind the movement Americans overwhelmingly support.
The public is the solution to no-kill
Julie Castle Blog
Nick Ramsay with Best Friends CEO Julie Castle and his wife Carol Lynn
The heart of the matter: A local hero retires
Nick Ramsay has been part of Best Friends’ story ever since the founders rolled up in Kanab, Utah.
Celebrating Kanab locals who helped make the Sanctuary possible
Julie Castle Blog
Smiling dog outside on a leash with a person behind him
Does the public support no-kill shelters?
While animal welfare continues debating the term “no-kill,” Americans across the political spectrum have already made up their…
The general public has already embraced “no-kill”
Julie Castle Blog
Best Friends CEO Julie Castle in front of a Supergirl world premiere sign
SUPERGIRL and Krypto: a tale of heroic second chances
My experience at the world premiere reminded me just how heroic this work is
Celebrate the local heroes around you
Julie Castle Blog
A dog wearing protective glasses lying on a mat, beside two people
Summer bestsellers: The stories you won't want to put down
The only reading list you need this summer
Enjoy some feel-good stories
Julie Castle Blog